Boris Johnson and David Davis emerge as favourites to replace Theresa May

LONDON – Boris Johnson and David Davis have emerged as the
leading contenders to be the next Conservative Party leader as
Prime Minister Theresa May's position looks more precarious by
the day.

May is under huge pressure to turn her fortunes around after her
plan to increase her parliamentary majority in this month's
election spectacularly backfired. The Tories lost 13 seats,
resulting in a hung parliament.

The prime minister has also faced severe criticism over her
handling of last week's Grenfell Tower fire, in which she decided
not to meet residents affected by the tragedy, unlike the Queen
and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Brexit Secretary Davis — who begins negotiations with the EU on
Monday morning — is seen by Tories within the
parliamentary party as the "unity candidate" to succeed May
and lead the country, the Telegraph
reported.

Davis has said that he is aiming to get "a deal like no other in
history," from the EU.

Foreign Secretary Johnson is also being discussed as a possible
person to replace May, but Davis appears to be in a stronger
position to make a leadership bid if the opportunity were to
arise.

The Daily Telegraph added that sources close to Johnson said that
Davis would be a "serious contender" for the leadership if May
were to resign.

On Sunday, Johnson was
forced to deny that he had started planning his challenge for
the leadership after he was seen meeting with Sir Michael Fallon,
a key cabinet ally of May, on Saturday night at a pub in Kent.

Johnson was spotted having a pint and a lengthy discussion with
Fallon, the defence secretary, at the Bricklayer's Arms in
Chipstead.

Davis previously challenged for the Tory leadership in 2001 and
2005, coming 4th and 2nd respectively. Last year Johnson was
expected to run for leader but stepped out of the race after ally
Michael Gove decided not to back the foreign secretary.

Gove — who May appointed Environment Secretary in a cabinet
reshuffle last week — came out in support for the embattled prime
minister on Monday morning. He told Sky that May is "absolutely
the right person for the job," adding: "she has all my support.
She should stay for all of this parliament."

However, not all Tory MPs share Gove's enthusiasm for May to
continue in her role. Some have warned that May has "10 days to
save her premiership,"
according to the Sunday Times.

It is expected that May would be forced to step down if she
failed to win the vote of the Queen's speech after the State
Opening of Parliament on Wednesday.